The Erasmus+ programme (short for the European Community Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students) is an initiative run by the European Union (EU). It provides opportunities for students to study or gain work experience in a different European country, while completing a degree.
The general objective of the programme is to support (through lifelong learning), the educational, professional, and personal development of people in education, training, youth and sport, in Europe and beyond, thereby contributing to sustainable growth, quality jobs and social cohesion.
To be eligible for the Erasmus+ programme you must be in a higher education institution and be in your second year of study. Students based in EU countries are eligible for all elements of the programme, and some non-EU European countries are also eligible, such as Norway and Iceland.
The scholarship can last from 3 months to a maximum of 12 months, which varies in the case of degrees in areas such as medicine or architecture. In these cases, you could go abroad for a maximum of 24 months.
Erasmus+ Procedure Step by Step
Before going abroad with Erasmus+
- Check interesting opportunities from receiving institutions that have an agreement with your home university.
- Apply for participation in a programme. Make sure you don’t miss any deadlines because in some universities you need to apply long before. You can choose up to 5 places on your application form. Remember, the first ones you put on are the most important ones! You need to know that there is competition for the places.
- You will also be asked to take an online language test.
- Once you get accepted, you have a lot of paperwork to do before the deadline. The most important documents for Erasmus+ are:
- Learning Agreement, which contains your study programme at home and receiving university.
- Two (2) documents with the dates and details of your stay: one for your university and another for your insurance card.
- Documents related to your bank account, to which the scholarship cost will be transferred.
The study programme of your receiving institution should be validated. If not, you will have to pass all courses in the receiving institution, and later on, those that could not be validated at your sending institution. If this happens, you need to talk directly with your dean’s office.
- After all the paperwork is completed, you should look for accommodation.
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